Help! Best time to go in Spring?

[momto2girls]

I need to get my act together and book reservations for a WDW trip this spring. We were planning to go at the end of March or beginning of April, but now I'm thinking that it might be really crowded with the spring breakers. Would the end of April or beginning of May be better? I wouldn't want to go any later than the beginning of May because my husband and I hate the Florida heat in the summer (January is Florida is warm enough for us! ).

Also, I found the reduced rate for WL during March- early April of $189 a night, but other posters have said that they are having a hard time getting an available room at that rate. How much is the jump in resort rates during peak season? Will I be able to find a deal since May is supposed to be less crowded (and if this is true, why is it considered peak season?)

If it is better to go at the end of April or beginning of May for crowd reasons, will it be impossible to get a good rate on a resort? I would love to stay at the WL or the Poly.

Thanks in advance!

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

There won't be much difference in weather between the end of April and the beginning of May. The Flower and Garden Festival is going on at that time and brings in many visitors.

Choose whichever time you can get decent rates for. Watch for codes and discounts, and if they release any that you can use, alter your reservations to take advantage of them.

 

[momto2girls]

Another question for all of the experts. Since I don't seem to see a discounted rate for May for WL or Poly, would an AP rate be available? I know a lot about WDW, but not a lot about getting the best rates at the resorts. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[JayCT]

All the current resort codes end April 17th. There is, however, a code out for the campgrounds that extends into the summer. No one is sure when and if there will be room codes or AP codes after the current codes expire. We have gone to WDW several times in the Spring and feel that the best time is early May. This year we will be there April 30th to May 8th on a AAA rate at WL. This will be after Spring Break but hopefully before the real hot Florida weather kicks in. I was just reading the 2004 Unoffical Guide to WDW and its says that this time of year is getting more and more popular, which means more and more crowds. We are hoping that there will be codes available so we can upgrade, but I am not counting on it. AAA is saving us about 10% off the rack rates (better than nothing). The room only codes save a lot more and usually an AP code saves you even more. You will need to do the math to see if it is worth the purchase of an AP to get additional savings on the room. Keep an eye on this Board and mousesavers.com for when reduced rates are available. Good luck. Jay

 

[blanq]

I agree with Jay that early May is a great time to go. March and April are usually very busy due to spring/Easter breaks. We went mid-May 2003, over Mother's Day, and had a wonderful trip!

As far as discounts go, there were discounts (both public codes and AP discounts) for May last year, and the discounts were far better than the ones currently being offered for March/April of this year. Last year we were able to get a standard room at AKL for $129/night. I am almost 100% positive that rates for WL were running the same. We were upgraded at check-in to a pool view room. Your post indicated that May was peak season, but I thought it was considered regular season.

The weather is so unpredictable in Orlando, but last year temps for our trip were in the 90's with high humidity, except for one day of our trip. It really wore us out! We were told that the weather was unseasonably warm for that time of year.

 

[hannahryan]

Check out www.mousesavers.com/faq.html#codetrends. Codes have been available for end of April through May for the past three years (so it looks promising, just a matter of when). May is not peak. Rates change to regular season on 4/18/04. I would definitely go early May. We went once during that time and it was wonderful...our best trip ever. End of April should be crowded. In Connecticut, our kids are off though 4/23. It seems like everyone I know is going to Disney World for April vacation. Good luck!

 

[momto2girls]

Thanks SO much to all of you for replying. Based on your responses, I have called my husband and told him to take vacation the first week of May. It sounds like that would be the best time. I'm so excited to have this decision made. I'm going to book the reservations and then hope that some discounted rates come out. We might be going back in December so an AP might be worth it for us.

All of you are absolutely right. May is not peak season. I assumed it was because it was almost summer.

Now I just have to choose between the WL and the Poly...

 

[JayCT]

May is considered Regular Season, so it is less expensive (only a little less) than Peak Season, but more expensive than Value Season. We are staying at WL because it is less expensive than the other MK area resorts. We stayed at the Poly in 2002 and really loved it. We had a really hard time choosing between going to the Poly again or WL. What really decided it was that there were no AAA rate rooms at the Poly for the times we were going. I also think DW really wanted to try something different. I know she is right, it is just that the Poly is really a great resort and I loved the convenience of the monorail and being near the TTC and its monrail over to Epcot. Anyway, good luck with your decision. Jay

 

[momto2girls]

Jay- Thanks for your comments. I'm having a hard time with this decision. I've always wanted to stay at the Poly and I've heard it is the best one if you have young children (I have a 3.5 year old and a 9.5 month old). But I really like the WL a lot. I think you'll really enjoy it. I think the Poly would be great with the monorail, but we don't plan to go to Epcot and the WL has a boat to the MK, so I don't know if we really need the monorail. Plus, the WL is a lot cheaper and maybe I should save the Poly for when the girls are a little bit older?? As you can tell, I'm very conflicted. Are there any other benefits about the Poly that might make it worth it for us to choose it over the WL?

TIA!